I do not mean to trivialise domestic violence and condone the evil that abusive relationships bring, but Saturday afternoon did feel like the decree absolute on a horrible eight and a half year marriage had landed on the doorsteps.

Granted, Brighton themselves are a club transformed these days from the plucky south-coast mob who lodged at the running track and feasted on memories of appearing in the '83 Cup Final. Funnily enough it was Brighton who faced Leeds United in January 2005 when Bates rode into town and apparently prised us from the jaws of the tax-man.

It was also Brighton who Leeds faced on our last home game of the season just gone, Bates in attendance as Chairman for the very last time and the fans facing up to him assuming the title of Honourary president for a three-year term.

However the summer saw a spat between him and GFHC over his preferred method of travel to matches, the issue seems destined for the courts but Bates was unceremoniously booted out of the club he had ran for eight and a bit years and the new board set up on a charm-offensive to win back the city and the fans who had deserted in droves becoming fed-up if rising ticket prices, our best players being sold and being labelled "morons".

"Forget the past be part of our futuret" was plastered on billboards, buses and even t-shirts the players donned for their pre-match warm-up. Bates's successor Saleh Nooruddin in his suit happily chatted to tattooed, replica shirt wearing beer monsters on the Kop.

Are GFH overdoing the charm-offensive? Probably! Are there suspicions they are here for a quick buck? Possibly! Do we care at the moment? No.

Sure the inevitable blip and pessism which eternally hangs over ER will be back soon, but like the rest of the summer lets enjoy the feelgood factor whilst it lasts!

Photo: Action Images

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